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<< Genesis 28: Jacob's Journey to Haran >>
 WE start with Jacob from Beersheba, on his journey to Haran, the city far to the north, beyond the Euphrates River, where Abraham had been before he came to the land of Canaan, and where Abraham's servant met Rebekah at the well. After three or four days Jacob came to Bethel, on the high rounded hills overlooking the land to the east and west. Here he rested on his journey and lay down to sleep, putting a stone for a pillow. He dreamed of a ladder set up on the earth and reaching to heaven. What he saw was probably a broad path leading upward, and the Divine light from the Lord above it shone upon the angels as they came and went. The Lord repealed to Jacob the wonderful promise made more than once to Abraham, "In thee shall all families of the earth be blessed." Jacob felt that the Lord was near, and he called the place Bethel, which means "house of God." Jacob was afraid and said, "How dreadful is this place!" Ought we to be afraid of the Lord? Were little children afraid of Him when He was on earth? Are angels afraid of Him in heaven? The only kind of fear that we ought to feel towards the Lord is fear to do wrong, because it will grieve the Lord who is so kind and good.
Let us read this part of the story. It reminds us that the Lord and the angels are near, taking care of us while we are asleep. "I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou, Lord, only makest me dwell in safety." (Ps. iv. 8.)
And Rebekah said to Isaac, I am weary of my life because of the daughters of Heth: if Jacob take a wife of the daughters of Heth, such as these which are of the daughters of the land, what good shall my life do me? And Isaac called Jacob, and blessed him, and charged him, and said unto him, Thou shalt not take a wife of the daughters of Canaan. Arise, go to Padanaram, to the house of Bethuel thy mother's father; and take thee a wife from thence of the daughers of Laban thy mother's brother. And God Almighty bless thee, and make thee fruitful, and multiply thee, that thou mayest be a multitude of people; And give thee the blessing of Abraham, to thee, and to thy seed with thee; that thou mayest inherit the land wherein thou art a stranger, which God gave unto Abraham. And Isaac sent away Jacob: and he went to Padanaram unto Laban, son of Bethuel the Syrian, the brother of Rebekah, Jacob's and Esau's mother. And Jacob went out from Beersheba, and went toward Haran. And he lighted upon a certain place, and tarried there all night, because the sun was set; and he took of the stones of that place, and put them for his pillows, and lay down in that place to sleep. And he dreamed, and behold a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven: and behold the angels of God ascending and descending on it. And, behold, the LORD stood above it, and said, I am the LORD God of Abraham thy father, and the God of Isaac: the land whereon thou liest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed; And thy seed shall be as the dust of the earth, and thou shalt spread abroad to the west, and to the east, and to the north, and to the south: and in thee and in thy seed shall all the families of the earth be blessed. And, behold, I am with thee, and will keep thee in all places whither thou goest, and will bring thee again into this land; for I will not leave thee, until I have done that which I have spoken to thee of. And Jacob awaked out of his sleep, and he said, Surely the LORD is in this place; and I knew it not. And he was afraid, and said, How dreadful is this place! this is none other but the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven. And Jacob rose up early in the morning, and took the stone that he had put for his pillows, and set it up for a pillar, and poured oil upon the top of it. And he called the name of that place Bethel: but the name of that city was called Luz at the first. And Jacob vowed a vow, saying, If God will be with me, and will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me bread to eat, and raiment to put on, So that I come again to my father's house in peace; then shall the LORD be my God:And this stone, which Ihave set for a pillar, shall be God's house: and of all that thou shalt give me I will surely give the tenth unto thee.--- Genesis XXVII. 46; XXVIII. 1-5; 10-22.
Jacob was on a journey; do you know where he was going? To Haran, his mother's old home, beyond the Euphrates River. You remember the spring outside the gate of Haran, to which Abraham's servant came at even with the camels, and how Rebekah brought up water in her jar upon her shoulder and gave him and the camels drink. Jacob came to a well, but it was in the field and further from the town, where the flocks gathered to be watered.
It is an interesting sight to see hundreds of sheep come logelher from their pasture to a well. The shepherds draw water for them and pour it into the little troughs ; and then, as they lead off and call, the flocks separate, each following its own shepherd to the pasture or to the fold.
Three flocks were already waiting by the well at Haran, soon others came. We must read the story.
 Then Jacob went on his journey, and came into the land of the people of the east. And he looked, and behold a well in the field, and, lo, there were three flocks of sheep lying by it; for out of that well they watered the flocks: and a great stone was upon the well's mouth. And thither were all the flocks gathered: and they rolled the stone from the well's mouth, and watered the sheep, and put the stone again upon the well's mouth in his place. And Jacob said unto them, My brethren, whence be ye? And they said, Of Haran are we. And he said unto them, Know ye Laban the son of Nahor? And they said, We know him. And he said unto them, Is he well? And they said, He is well:and, behold, Rachel his daughter cometh with the sheep. And he said, Lo, it is yet high day, neither is it time that the cattle should be gathered together: water ye the sheep, and go and feed them. And they said, We cannot, until all the flocks be gathered together, and till they roll the stone from the well's mouth; then we water the sheep. And while he yet spake with them, Rachel came with her father's sheep; for she kept them. And it came to pass, when Jacob saw Rachel the daughter of Laban his mother's brother, and the sheep of Laban his mother's brother, that Jacob went near, and rolled the stone from the well's mouth, and watered the flock of Laban his mother's brother. And Jacob kissed Rachel, and lifted up his voice, and wept. And Jacob told Rachel that he was her father's brother, and that he was Rebekah's son: and she ran and told her father. And it came to pass, when Laban heard the tidings of Jacob his sister's son, that he ran to meet him, and embraced him, and kissed him, and brought him to his house. And he told Laban all these things. And Laban said to him, Surely thou art my bone and my flesh. And he abode with him the space of a month. And Laban said unto Jacob, Because thou art my brother, shouldest thou therefore serve me for nought? tell me, what shall thy wages be? And Laban had two daughters: the name of the elder was Leah, and the name of the younger was Rachel. Leah was tender eyed; but Rachel was beautiful and well favoured. And Jacob loved Rachel; and said, I will serve thee seven years for Rachel thy younger daughter. And Laban said, It is better that I give her to thee, than that I should give her to another man: abide with me. And Jacob served seven years for Rachel; and they seemed unto him but a few days, for the love he had to her.---Genesis XXIX. 1-20.
Author: William L. Worcester 1904
Spiritual Correspondences
Spiritual Meaning
GENESIS XXVII
46. And Rebekah said to Isaac, I loathe my life because of the daughters of Heth; if Jacob should take a woman of the daughters of Heth, such as these, of the daughters of the land, wherefore have I lives?
"And Rebekah said to Isaac," signifies the Lord's perception from Divine truth; "I loathe my life because of the daughters of Heth," signifies the adjunction of natural truth from another source; "if Jacob should take a woman of the daughters of Heth," signifies that natural truth should not be associated therewith; "such as these, of the daughters of the land," signifies because not from that ground; "wherefore have I lives?" signifies that thus there would not be conjunction.
GENESIS XXVIII
1, 2. And Isaac called Jacob, and blessed him, and commanded him, and said unto him, Thou shalt not take a woman of the daughters of Canaan. Arise, go to Paddan-aram, to the house of Bethuel, thy mother's father, and take thee from thence a woman of the daughters of Laban thy mother's brother.
'And Isaac called Jacob,' signifies perception by the Lord of the quality in respect to the good of truth; 'and blessed him,' signifies that thus conjunction would be effected; 'and commanded him, and said unto him,' signifies reflection and consequent perception 'thou shalt not take a woman of the daughters of Canaan,' signifies provided that it be not conjoined with the affections of falsity and evil; 'arise' signifies provided it should elevate that good thence; 'go to Paddan-aram,' signifies the knowledges of such truth; 'to the house of Bethuel thy mother's father, and take thee from thence a woman of the daughters of Laban thy mother's brother,' signifies collateral external good, and the derivative truth that was to be conjoined.
3-5. And God Shaddai will bless thee, and will take thee fruitful and multiply thee, and thou shalt be a company of peoples. And He will give thee the blessing of Abraham, to thee and to thy, seed with thee, to cause thee to inherit the land of thy sojournings, which God gave unto Abraham. And Isaac sent away Jacob; and he went to Paddan-aram, to Laban the son of Bethuel the Aramean, the brother of Rebekah, the mother of Jacob and Esau.
'And God Shaddai will bless thee,' signifies the temptations of that truth and good through which there is conjunction; 'and will make thee fruitful and multiply thee,' signifies the derivative goods and truths; 'and thou shalt be a company of peoples,' signifies abundance; 'and He will give thee the blessing of Abraham,' signifies the conjunction of the Divine Itself with the good and truth of the natural 'to thee and to thy seed with thee,' signifies with the good and its derivative truth; 'to cause thee to inherit the land of thy sojournings,' signifies the life of instructions; which God gave unto Abraham,' signifies which is from the Divine; 'and Isaac sent away Jacob,' signifies the beginning of manifestation; 'and he went to Paddan-aram,' signifies here as before the knowledges of that truth; 'to Laban the son of Bethuel the Aramean,' signifies collateral good; 'the brother of Rebekah, the mother of Jacob and Esau,' signifies the affinity from the mother, with the good of truth which is 'Jacob,' and with the truth of good which is 'Esau.'
10, 11. And Jacob went out from Beer-sheba, and went toward Haran. And he lighted upon a place, and passed the night there, for the sun was set; and he took of the stones of the place, and placed them for his pillows, and lay down in that place.
'And Jacob went out from Beer-sheba,' signifies life more remote from Divine doctrinal things; 'and went toward Haran,' signifies the good and truth of that degree; 'and he lighted upon a place,' signifies the state; 'and passed the night there, for the sun was set,' signifies life in what is obscure; 'and he took of the stones of the place,' signifies the truths of that state; 'and placed them for his pillows,' signifies communication of a most general nature with the Divine; 'and lay down in that place,' signifies the tranquillity of the state.
12-15. And he dreamed, and behold a ladder set on the earth, and its head reaching to heaven; and behold the angels of God ascending and descending on it. And behold Jehovah standing upon it; and He said, I am Jehovah the God of Abraham thy father, and the God of Isaac; the land whereon thou liest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed; and thy seed shall be as the dust of the earth, and thou shalt break forth to the sea, and to the east, and to the north, and to the south; and in thee shall all the families of the ground be blessed, and in thy seed; and behold I am with thee, and will keep thee withersoever thou goest, and will bring thee back to this ground; for I will not leave thee until I have done that which I have spoken to thee.
'And he dreamed,' signifies foresight; 'and behold a ladder set on the earth,' signifies the communication of the lowest truth and its derivative good; 'and its head reaching to heaven,' signifies with the Divine; 'and behold the angels of God ascending and descending on it,' signifies infinite and eternal communication, and the consequent conjunction and that from what is lowest there is as it were an ascent, and afterwards when the order is inverted, a descent; and behold Jehovah standing upon it,' signifies the Lord in the highest; 'and He said, I am Jehovah the God of Abraham thy father,' signifies the Lord, that from Him that good comes 'and the God of Isaac,' signifies the Lord as to the Divine Human 'the land whereon thou liest, to thee will I give it,' signifies the good in which He was, that it was from what was His own; 'and to thy seed,' signifies that so also was the truth; 'and thy seed shall be as the dust of the earth,' signifies that Divine truth natural would be as natural good; 'and thou shalt break forth to the sea, and to the east,' signifies the infinite extension of good; 'and to the north, and to the south,' signifies the infinite extension of truth; thus all states of good and truth; 'and in thee shall all the families of the ground he blessed,' signifies that all truths of the good of doctrine will be conjoined with good 'and in thy seed,' signifies and with truth; 'and behold I am with thee,' signifies the Divine 'and will keep thee whithersoever thou goest,' signifies the Divine Providence; 'and will bring thee back to this ground,' signifies conjunction with Divine doctrine; 'for I will not leave thee until I have done that which I have spoken to thee,' signifies that nothing would be wanting to prevent its having effect.
16, 17. And Jacob awoke out of his sleep, and he said, Surely Jehovah is in this place; and I knew it not. And he feared, and said, How terrible is this place! this is none other than the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven.
'And Jacob awoke out of his sleep,' signifies enlightenment; 'and he said, Surely Jehovah is in this place,' signifies the Divine in this state; 'and I knew it not,' signifies in an obscure state; 'and he feared,' signifies a sacred alteration; 'and said, How terrible is this place,' signifies the sanctity of the state; 'this is none other than the house of God,' signifies the Lord's kingdom in the ultimate of order; 'and this is the gate of heaven,' signifies the ultimate in which order closes, through which ultimate there is apparently an entrance from nature.
18, 19. And Jacob rose up early in the morning, and took the stone that he had placed for his pillows, and set it up for a pillar, and poured oil upon the head of it. And he called the name of that place Bethel; but the name of the city was Luz at the first.
'And Jacob rose up early in the morning,' signifies a state of enlightenment; ' and took the stone,' signifies truth 'that he had placed for his pillows,' signifies with which there was communication with the Divine; 'and set it up for a pillar,' signifies a holy boundary; 'and poured oil upon the head of it,' signifies the holy good from which it was derived; 'and he called the name of that place Bethel,' signifies the quality of the state; 'but the name of the city was Luz at the first,' signifies the quality of the former state.
20-22. And Jacob vowed a vow, saying, If God will be with me, and will keep me in this way wherein I walk, and will give me bread to eat, and raiment to put on, and I return in peace to my father's house, Jehovah shall be to me for God. And this stone which I have set up for a pillar shall be God's house; and all that Thou shalt give me, tithing I will tithe it to Thee.
'And Jacob vowed a vow, saying,' signifies a state of Providence; 'if God will be with me and will keep me in this way wherein I walk,' signifies continuously Divine; 'and will give me bread to eat,' signifies even to conjunction with Divine good; 'and raiment to put on,' signifies conjunction with Divine truth; 'and I return in peace to my father's house,' signifies even to perfect union; 'and Jehovah shall be to me for God,' signifies that the Divine natural should also be Jehovah; 'and this stone which I have set up for a pillar,' signifies truth which is the ultimate; 'shall be God's house' signifies here as before the Lord's kingdom in the ultimate of order, in which are higher things as in their house; 'and all that Thou shalt give me, tithing I will tithe it to Thee,' signifies that He would make all things Divine in general and in particular by His own power.
GENESIS XXIX
1. And Jacob lifted up his feet, and went to the land of the sons of the east.
'And Jacob lifted up his feet,' signifies the elevation of the natural; 'and went to the land of the sons of the east,' signifies to the truths of love.
2, 3. And he saw, and behold a well in the field, and behold there three droves of the flock lying by it; for out of that well they watered the droves, and a great stone was upon the well's mouth. And all the droves were gathered together thither; and they rolled the stone from the well's mouth, and watered the flock, and they put the stone in its place again upon the well's mouth.
'And he saw,' signifies perception and behold a well,' signifies the Word; 'in the field,' signifies for the churches and behold there three droves of the flock lying by it,' signifies the holy things of churches and of doctrinal things for out of that well they watered the droves,' signifies that the memory-knowledge is thence derived 'and a great stone was upon the well's mouth,' signifies that it was closed; ' and all the droves were gathered together thither,' signifies that all churches and their doctrinal things were thence derived; 'and they rolled the stone from the well's mouth,' signifies that they opened it; 'and watered the flock,' signifies that thence came doctrine 'and they put the stone in its place again upon the well's mouth,' signifies that meanwhile it was closed.
4-6. And Jacob said unto them, My brethren whence are ye? And they said, Of Haran are we. And he said unto them, Know ye Laban the son of Nahor? And they said, We know him. And he said unto them, Hath he peace? And they said, Peace; and behold Rachel his daughter cometh with the flock.
'And Jacob said unto them,' signifies the truth of good; 'My brethren whence are ye?' signifies charity there, from what origin is it? 'and they said, Of Haran are we,' signifies from the good of a common stock; 'and he said unto them, Know ye Laban the son of Nahor?' signifies, Have they the good of this stock? 'and they said, We know him,' signifies affirmation; 'and he said unto them, Hath he peace?' signifies, is not this good from the Lord's kingdom? 'and they said, Peace,' signifies affirmation; 'and behold Rachel his daughter,' signifies the affection of interior truth; 'cometh with the flock,' signifies interior doctrinal things.
7, 8. And he said, Behold as yet the day is great, it is not time for the cattle to be gathered together: water ye the flock, and go and feed them. And they said, We cannot until all the droves are gathered together, and they roll the stone from the well's mouth; then shall we water the flock.
'And he said, Behold as yet the day is great,' signifies that now the state was advancing; 'it is not time for the cattle to be gathered together,' signifies that the goods and truths of the churches and of doctrinal things could not as yet be gathered into a one; 'water ye the flock and go and feed them,' signifies instruction therefrom to a few; 'and they said, We cannot until all the droves are gathered together,' signifies that they ought to be together; 'and they roll the stone from the well's mouth,' signifies that thus the things of the Word are disclosed; ' then shall we water the flock,' signifies that then they are instructed.
9-11. While he was yet speaking with them, Rachel came with the flock which was her father's, for she was a shepherdess. And it came to pass when Jacob saw Rachel the daughter of Laban his mother's brother, and the flock of Laban his mother's brother, that Jacob came near, and rolled the stone from the well's mouth, and watered the flock of Laban his mother's brother. And Jacob kissed Rachel, and lifted up his voice and wept.
'While he was yet speaking with them,' signifies thought on that occasion; 'Rachel came with the flock,' signifies the affection of the interior truth which is of the church and of doctrine; 'which was her father's,' signifies from good in respect to origin; 'for she was a shepherdess,' signifies that the affection of interior truth teaches what is in the Word; 'and it came to pass when Jacob saw Rachel the daughter of Laban his mother's brother,' signifies the acknowledgment of the affection of that truth in regard to its origin; 'and the flock of Laban his mother's brother,' signifies the church and the doctrine therefrom; 'that Jacob came near, and rolled the stone from the well's mouth,' signifies that the Lord from natural good has opened the Word as to its interiors; 'and watered the flock of Laban his mother's brother,' signifies instruction; 'and Jacob kissed Rachel,' signifies love toward interior truths; 'and lifted up his voice and wept,' signifies the ardor of love.
12, 13. And Jacob told Rachel that he was her father's brother, and that he was Rebekah's son; and she ran and told her father. And it came to pass when Laban heard the tidings of Jacob his sister's son, that he ran to meet him, and embraced him, and kissed him, and brought him to his house; and he told Laban all these words.
'And Jacob told Rachel that he was her father's brother,' signifies the affinity of the good which is 'Jacob' and of the good which is ' Laban;' 'and that he was Rebekah's son,' signifies the conjunction of these affinities; 'and she ran and told her father,' signifies acknowledgment by means of interior truths; 'and it came to pass when Laban heard the tidings of Jacob his sister's son,' signifies the acknowledgment of the related good; 'that he ran to meet him,' signifies agreement; 'and embraced him,' signifies affection; 'and kissed him,' signifies initiation; 'and brought him to his house,' signifies to conjunction; 'and he told Laban all these words,' signifies from truths.
14, 15. And Laban said to him, Surely thou art my bone and my flesh. And he dwelt with him a month of days. And Laban said unto Jacob, Because thou art my brother, shouldest thou therefore serve me for nought? Tell me, what shall be thy reward?
'And Laban said to him, Surely thou art my bone and my flesh,' signifies conjoined in respect to truths and to goods; 'and he dwelt with him a month of days,' signifies a new state of life; 'and Laban said unto Jacob, Because thou art my brother,' signifies because they have blood relationship from good; 'shouldest thou therefore serve me for nought? tell me what shall be thy reward,' signifies that there must be a means of conjunction.
16, 17. And Laban had two daughters, the name of the elder was Leah, and the name of the younger was Rachel. And Leah's eyes were weak, and Rachel was beautiful in form and beautiful in look.
'And Laban had two daughters,' signifies the affections of truth from the good which is from a common stock; 'the name of the elder was Leah,' signifies the affection of external truth with its quality; 'and the name of the younger was Rachel,' signifies the affection of internal truth with its quality; 'and Leah's eyes were weak,' signifies that the affection of external truth is such in regard to the understanding of it; 'and Rachel was beautiful in form and beautiful in look,' signifies that the affection of internal truth is such in regard to what is spiritual.
18-20. And Jacob loved Rachel; and he said, I will serve thee seven years for Rachel thy younger daughter. And Laban said, It is better that I should give her to thee than give her to another man; abide with me. And Jacob served seven years for Rachel, and they were in his eyes as a few days for the love he had to her.
'And Jacob loved Rachel,' signifies the love of good toward internal truth; 'and he said, I will serve thee seven years for Rachel thy younger daughter,' signifies study, and at the same time a holy state, in order to be conjoined with internal truth; 'and Laban said, It is better that I should give her to thee than give her to another man; abide with me,' signifies a means of conjunction through interior truth with that good; 'and Jacob served seven years for Rachel,' signifies the accomplishment; 'and they were in his eyes as a few days, for the love he had to her,' signifies a state of love. [AC 3618-3827]
Author: Emanuel Swedenborg
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